The idea of having a date night might seem like a pipe dream when you have a newborn. While I was lucky enough to have an extraordinary mommy who lived around the corner from me and help us with date nights. I was unlucky when she had to step for two years away to China and we just brought home our sweet newborn. So for all those struggling to find a babysitter, I feel you. here are 15 fun date night ideas at home that don’t require a babysitter
15 fun date night ideas at home that DON’T require a Babysitter
Here are ten slightly a lot more inventive date night at home ideas for dating during include some during their waking hours.
No-babysitter dates involving the kids
It can be a difficult balance to let the kids participate and still have it feel like a date or at least a special occasion.
Kid’s serve parents -Â Â Get the kids to serve you somehow. big kids can prepare dinner, little kids can walk on your back and we can call it a spa/massage. often my kids try to demand some money for their efforts, so 25 cent massages go quite a long way
Indoor Picnic. throw a wintry picnic in the living room, a silly way to celebrate that you’re a lot more than a couple, you’re a family. We had a frozen picnic with marshmallows, hot cocoa and maybe some coffee and baily’s for the adults.
Class it up. buy the best takeout in town, serve it on the good china with cloth napkins. Light candles.
Play karaoke or video games! where you do the singing and your kids accompany with egg shakers and tambourines from their kits. We used to play rock Band back in the days when that game was unpopular. The big kids would join in and the little kids instruments were unplugged, because hey, the band needs to succeed!
Relive the past -Â Pop in your wedding video and sit back and relive the past. Your kids will love seeing all the family and the videos and you and your spouse will get to relive that amazing day.
While the kids are sleeping!
Netflix & chill – Hey, us parents developed Netflix and chill, it was just called renting a movie. Turn an common evening in front of the TV into a motion picture date with junior mints and a big bowl of buttery popcorn. Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, Hulu and onDemand options so you don’t even need to plan ahead very much for the film. Make it a series.
Recipe for date:Â film plus motion picture snacks. Easy! (since its so easy, remember to put on a clean tee shirt so your partner knows its a date)
Make dinner after dinner but in a fun, sexy way. take pleasure in the dance of cooking together and let it last the whole evening.
Recipe for date:Â mix food with ambiance and cooking stuff. average difficulty but planning is required.
Share a fancy dessert!(if cooking is too much effort) Share a fancy dessert and white wine by candlelight. Make it something decadent like souffle or fondue.
Recipe for date:Â dessert plus beverage of choice. pretty easy, if you get carryout or grocery dessert, prep is minimal.
Invite friends over for a post-bedtime double date with board games or video games. If your pals have kids, try a half-sleepover. If it fails, then next time you can stick to your child-free pals.
Recipe for date:Â let your pals bring the game and you just clear the plastic toys off of the couch. Easy!
Vacation planning date -Â This is one of my favorites. Studies say planning a holiday brings people as much happiness as the holiday itself. It’s a terrific way to reconnect with your partner and get ready for your next extraordinary adventure.
Tapas & Tails -Â One of our favorite date nights at home has been tapas and tails. My spouse breaks out the bar set I got him for Christmas and we take pleasure in some delicious craft cocktails along with some tast tapas. Something about a cradt cocktail and tapas is fun and romantic.
Massage Envy -Â It’s timed to get kicked back for this date night idea at home. have a terrific night of you and your spouse giving each other a full body massage.
15-30 minute dates at home while the kids are “distracted”
Sometimes you have to take what you get and with parenting a 15 -30 minute break can be a terrific way to still have fun with your spouse.
Elmo sex. As described by Mom101, “in which you plop the kids down in front of Elmo, race into the bedroom for 15 minutes, then get the 2-minute alerting when the theme music comes on?”. Look, the magic doesn’t have to stop, although some days it does seem impossible.
“Nap time” When your kids are in the phase where they are in that sweet spot of not going to injure themselves, let them know mommy and daddy need to take a nap and then have a little romantic date inside your bedroom. often we enjoy a show together and other times we just sit back and chat and read some magazines. It’s a great retreat from the daily chaos and helps mommy and daddy reconnect.
Escape to the backyard -Â My kids are always in the backyard butoften when they are playing inside, it is great to just escape with my hubby to the backyard with a cup of coffee and snuggle under the blanket by our little fire pit.
What kind of things do you do to have a “date night” at home?
Somewhat-related thoughts: Over on our BabyCenter column, I extol the virtues of video games for parents during naptime.